THE HERO EMPATHY BYSTANDER PROGRAMME FOR BOYS

Programme Overview

The Hero Empathy Bystander Programme for boys is a behaviour-focused interactive programme. It is specifically designed to encourage boys to play a part in ending violence against women by breaking down gender-stereotypes, understanding their own masculinity and building feelings of empathy towards women and girls. The longer-term aim is to prevent abusive or violent behaviour towards women and girls.

Aims

In long term, to prevent abusive and violent behaviour against women and girls.

Break down gender stereotypes and develop a belief in gender equality.

Build empathetic attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls.

Experience what a day in the life of a women or girl feels like.

To create a safe, fun and positive environment where everyone feels valued and welcome and where the boy’s voices are heard.

Provide positive role models through both male and female trainers.

Give young boys a forum to talk safely about their emotions and feelings.

Give young boys a forum to talk safely about sexual violence against young boys and men.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, boys will be able to:

Think:

Girls/women and boys/girls are equal

That girls and women are also heroes and positive role models for them as boys

All forms of abuse including sexual violence against women and children is unacceptable

That abuse and sexual violence also affects boys

That boys and men can show other emotions than just anger

They can play a role in ending violence towards women and children

Feel:

Empathy towards women and girls

Empowered - they feel empowered, they know where to seek help and that they behave in an empowered way,

That boys are active bystanders and part of the solution to end violence against women and girls